Truman closes out 2012 with record-setting win over Mount Mercy

KIRKSVILLE - The Truman State women’s basketball team was looking for a way to put a tough loss in the California Baptist University Classic behind them before jumping into MIAA play later this week.

They did that Monday. And then some.

The Bulldogs set numerous school and conference records, letting fly from three-point range with unmatched accuracy in a 110-43 non-conference victory over Mount Mercy College (Iowa).

Truman improved to 8-2 with the win on New Year’s Eve. They’ll open the bulk of conference play Thursday at home against Lincoln University at 5:30 p.m.

“When you have 12 days off after your last game, eight of those the kids are at home and you don’t know exactly what they’re doing, if they’re continuing to stay in shape or whatever, for me personally it was about getting that bad taste out of our mouth from that last game before Christmas against Vanguard,” Truman head coach Michael Smith said, referring to his team’s defeat in the Classic championship game.

The Bulldogs made that game one to forget while making this one an afternoon to remember.

Truman took advantage of a soft Mount Mercy defense and used quick ball movement for open looks from the outside. That resulted in 22 made three-pointers, a new record for both the program (previously 15 in 2011 against Central Methodist and 2002 against Westminster) and the MIAA (20, by Emporia State in 2010 and Central Missouri in 2011). The barrage was the eighth-most in one game all-time in Division II.

Truman hit on 71 percent of its three-point attempts (22-of-31), also a program record (2011, Central Methodist) and set a record for overall field-goal percentage by hitting on 65 percent of their shots (39-of-60). That number broke a mark previously set against Lincoln in 1979 (68.3 percent).

“That was awesome,” said freshman Courtney Strait, who hit eight three-pointers while scoring a game-high 28 points. Strait said she’s been working on her technique in practice.

“I’ve been really working in practice on keeping my feet set, staying low and being ready to shoot before I catch it,” she said. “I ran the court like I was supposed to and I got open.”

Fellow freshman and Marion County High School product Jessica Redd had 11 points for the Bulldogs. Redd said she’s making adjustments, leaning from fellow post player Jennifer Conway, to get acclimated to the college game.

One of her biggest changes?

“I have to talk,” she said with a laugh. “I didn’t do that in high school. I have to talk on the court. That’s the biggest thing.”

Despite the offensive fireworks, Smith was most pleased with his team’s defensive intensity. Truman forced 26 turnovers in the win.

“We knew coming in we would probably have the advantage against this team, but we were looking at how well defensively we wanted to play. That’s what I was most please about, our defensive intensity, our rotations, those things. We’ve really been stressing that the last couple days in practice,” he said.

Nicole Gloor had 12 points and six assists, Allie Norton had 15 points, six assists and six rebounds, Amy Briggs had 14 points and 10 assists, Becka McHenry had nine points and two assists, and Megan Sharpe had eight points and six rebounds.